2023 Highlights from the ABMP Government Relations Team

The US Capitol and the year 2023 next to it.

The ABMP Government Relations team had a busy year advocating for members and the massage and bodywork profession as a whole. Here are the team’s legislative highlights from 2023: 

  • Supported the Interstate Massage Compact that was introduced in the following states: Georgia, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Washington, and Wisconsin (Nevada signed the compact bill into law) 
  • Championed massage licensing efforts in Minnesota (Senate File 967 and House File 973) and Kansas (Senate Bill 305) 
  • Defended the protection of the MBLEx as the national massage therapy licensing testing standard 
  • Opposed massage establishment licensure to avoid double licensing in numerous states, including New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia 
  • Advocated for changes in June regarding proposed Gainful Employment rules; encouraged schools to push for change once final rules were released in October that amended the “150%” Rule, jeopardizing student access to federal aid 

Topics Anticipated for 2024:  

  • Supporting licensure bills 
  • Backing massage compact bills
  • Protecting entry-level examination
  • Advocating for reasonable education hours 

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